New BMW G30 5 Series spotted in San Francisco

In October, BMW will finally unveil the highly-awaited G30 5 Series. The premium midsize sedan has been going through extensive testing sessions in the last …

In October, BMW will finally unveil the highly-awaited G30 5 Series. The premium midsize sedan has been going through extensive testing sessions in the last few months and it is now ready for primetime. The latest spy photos give us a closer look at a 5 Series prototype spotted in the city of San Francisco. Even a few weeks before its official unveiling, the BMW 5 Series remains almost completely camouflaged, only the roof is already shown.

Although the G30 5 Series has grown slightly in size, the midsize sedan will actually be lighter than the current F10 5 Series. By using carbon in the body structure and the new CLAR platform, the curb weight should fall by up to 100 kilograms. According to one of our sources inside Munich, the entry-level 5ers will be using the same front axle as the upcoming G20 3 Series in the hopes of reducing the weight of the car by as much as possible. This way, it would seem like the 520i and 520d models will weigh just a tad over what their 320i and 320d brothers. At the other end of the spectrum, cars like the 540d and M550i will be adopting the same axle as the current 7 Series, to make sure the driving experience is on par with the expectations.

These upper-range models will also come with the Dynamic Drive option which will see the introduction of the new Adaptive driving mode on the 5 Series for the first time, following in the footsteps of the 7 Series. Dynamic Drive uses active stabilizers on the front and rear axles to counteract the vehicle’s tendency to roll in a corner. Working together with acceleration and position sensors, a management system and other components, such as a compensation tank for sound control, the system ensures the best agility at all speeds, balanced reactions to load changes and precise steering.

The spy photos also reveal the full LED headlights which will be standard on the new 5er. Optional laser headlights will also be part of the ordering catalog.

BMW’s G30 5 Series is an evolution of the current generation 5 Series, but with modern accents which will clearly distinguish the two models. Even though were eager to call it a smaller 7 Series, the new midsize sedan will have its own identity and character.